Written Answers

Friday 25 February 2000

Scottish Executive

Agriculture

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it proposes to fund the development of energy crops in Scotland.

Ross Finnie: The Highlands and Islands Special Transitional Programme and the Scottish Rural Development Plan include measures to support the diversification of agriculture, including the growing of novel crops. These proposals are currently under negotiation with the European Commission, and an announcement will be made when new schemes are open for applications.

  Currently, however, producers are permitted to set aside up to 100% of the land on which they are claiming aid under the Arable Area Payments Scheme (AAPS) when all that land is used for the production of multi-annual biomass crops, e.g. short rotation coppice. AAPS aid is paid at the same rate as that for cereal crops. In addition, the Forestry Commission provides an establishment grant for short rotation coppice (SRC) both on land set aside as part of AAPS and on other agricultural land.

Business

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to encourage Scottish firms to improve the level of their investment in research and development.

Henry McLeish: The Executive encourages firms to improve their level of research and development through schemes such as LINK, Faraday Partnerships, TCS, SMART, SPUR and the EU Fifth Framework Programme.

  The Knowledge Economy Taskforce, chaired by myself, is also currently considering this area as part of its wider remit.

Emergency Services

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied that the manning levels of the Annan Ambulance Service are sufficient to meet the needs of the geographic area covered by the station and to provide safe and healthy working conditions for those employed.

Susan Deacon: Ensuring that manning levels in the Annan area are sufficient to maintain patient safety and safe and healthy working conditions for staff are operational matters for the Scottish Ambulance Service to decide.

Emergency Services

Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers it necessary for Scottish Ambulance Service personnel to be aware of the mental health of patients in their care.

Susan Deacon: The decision on divulging patient information needs to be taken by those involved in the care of the individual. The Code of Practice on the Confidentiality of Personal Health Information makes clear that personal health information should not be divulged without the explicit consent of the patient. There are exceptions to this general principle. These include circumstances where there is a "need to know" so that effective treatment and care can be provided; where it is in the wider public interest to disclose or where the information is necessary to prevent serious injury or damage to the health of a third party. That judgement is a matter for clinical decision.

  All of the principles set down in the Code of Practice have to be followed by all NHS staff and the staff of the Scottish Ambulance Service with their vital contribution to front-line patient care are no different in that respect.

Enterprise

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what contact it has with members of the scientific community to discuss barriers to participation in the commercialisation of their research.

Henry McLeish: Ministers and officials in the Executive meet with the scientific community on a regular basis to discuss issues of interest including commercialisation. Along with officials from the Enterprise and Lifelong Learning and Rural Affairs Departments, I recently visited Glasgow University and the Roslin and Moredun Institutes where the discussions included the issue of commercialisation.

  The scientific community is also represented among the membership of the Knowledge Economy Taskforce, chaired by myself and which is considering barriers to commercialisation as part of its wider remit.

  Officials met recently with the Research Advisory Committee of the Committee of Scottish Higher Education Principals (COSHEP) and the Scottish Agricultural and Biological Research Institutes (SABRIs). Officials are also represented, along with Scottish Enterprise, COSHEP, the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council (SHEFC) and the SABRIs, on the National Cluster Liaison Group.

  Along with COSHEP and SHEFC, the Executive is a founding member of Technology Ventures Scotland which seeks to promote and accelerate the commercialisation of science and technology in Scotland.

Environment

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will report on the implementation of the requirements of EC Directive 97/11/EC in relation to harbour works in Scotland.

Sarah Boyack: The European Communities Directive 97/11/EC made new requirements for the procedures in making Environmental Impact Assessments in relation to private and public works. These changes build on the requirements already in place in the substantive Environmental Impact Assessment Directive made in 1985 (85/337/EEC), which has been incorporated into UK legislation for some years.

  The changes in procedure for harbour works projects requiring Environmental Impact Assessments under the Directive are being introduced to GB legislation by the Harbour Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 1999 (SI 1999/3445). These Regulations have been made on a GB-wide basis under section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972 to implement Community obligations. The Regulations (SI 1999/3445) were made on 21 December and came into force on 1 February.

  I have written to the Chairman of the Transport and Environment Committee giving further details of the technical changes and effect of the Regulations in Scotland.

Health

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to commit extra resources to Grampian University Hospitals Trust to allow it to continue issuing hearing aids during the current financial year.

Susan Deacon: Grampian Health Board and Grampian University Hospitals NHS Trust have taken steps to ensure that hearing aids will continue to be issued during the current financial year.

  These steps did not require the Scottish Executive to commit extra resources to the Trust. Nor should they have. There has been record investment in the Health Service in Scotland this year. From £300 million extra allocated to health in Scotland, each health board received an increase substantially above inflation to meet the health care needs of their resident populations.

  It is for health boards and NHS Trusts to determine local priorities for expenditure of the monies allocated to them – but the Scottish Executive expects them to ensure that essential services are maintained. I am therefore pleased that Grampian Health Board and Grampian University Hospitals Trust have acted to reinstate the hearing aid service in full.

Health

Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is committed to the same 5% above inflation rise in health spending as outlined recently by the Prime Minister.

Susan Deacon: Health spending per head of population in Scotland is significantly higher than in England. Nevertheless, as pledged in the Programme for Government , the Scottish Executive will substantially increase NHS spending in real terms over the coming years. The actual increases will be determined in the context of the 2000 Spending Review.

Justice

Kay Ullrich (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions breaches of a civil non-harassment order have led to a prosecution.

Colin Boyd: The 1998 recorded crime figures compiled by the Scottish Executive Justice Department reveal that the police recorded eight occasions on which they reported to the Procurator Fiscal an alleged breach of a civil non-harassment order for consideration of criminal proceedings. However, an examination of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service office system has not revealed any cases of breach of a civil non-harassment order. Of the eight cases recorded by the police to date one has been identified. It was in fact reported by the police as a breach of the peace, as opposed to a breach of an order, and no criminal proceedings were taken.

  Efforts are ongoing to identify the remaining cases. I will write to the Member as soon as the information is to hand.

Land Reform

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what further progress has been made in implementing its Land Reform Action Plan published in August 1999.

Mr Jim Wallace: I promised that we would publish regular updates on our Land Reform Action Plan to show how we are delivering on our promises. The second of these progress reports is published today. All MSPs are receiving copies.

  I am pleased to say that we are well on track generally. Since the last progress report:

  The Abolition of Feudal Tenure etc. (Scotland) Bill is making good parliamentary progress;

  We have published the draft Bill on National Parks;

  We have announced that we will be including crofting community right to buy in the Land Reform Bill (which will be somewhat delayed as a consequence);

  Funding of nearly £11 million has been announced for the Scottish Land Fund.

Local Government Finance

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total actual, estimated and planned capital expenditure is for local authorities between 1997-98 and 2001-02 in 1998-99 prices, and what the difference is between this sum and expenditure if it were frozen in real terms at the level of expenditure in 1996-97.

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total actual, estimated and planned revenue and capital expenditure is for local authorities between 1997-98 and 2001-02 in 1998-99 prices, and what is the difference between this sum and expenditure if it were frozen in real terms at the level of expenditure in 1996-97, in value and percentage terms.

Mr Jack McConnell: The available information on local authority expenditure on General Fund, capital and housing revenue accounts for the years 1997-98 to 1999-2000 is given in the following tables. As local authorities only set their budgets annually it is not possible to give figures for 2000-01 and 2001-02. The figures in the tables have been expressed in 1998-99 prices using GDP Deflator data published by HM Treasury on 10 November 1999.

  Summary of Actual and Estimated Expenditure by Local Authorities.

  Table 1: Local Authority Revenue Expenditure on General Fund

  





Final Outturn 1997-98
£ million

  

Provisional Outturn 

  1998-99
£ million

  

Budget Estimate
1999-2000
£ million

  



Real Terms (1998-99 Prices) (CFCR 

  included within the above)

  

6,726
55

  

6,730
59

  

6,830
28

  



1996-97 Expenditure (1998-99 Prices) 

  (CFCR included within the above)

  

6,932
71

  

6,932
71

  

6,932
71

  



Difference in Value

  

-206

  

-202

  

-102

  



Difference in %

  

-3.0

  

-2.9

  

-1.5

  



  Notes:

  1. The figures in the table are net expenditure as gross expenditure is not available on provisional outturn and budget estimate returns from local authorities.

  2. Final Outturn data is as reported by authorities on their Local Financial Returns. For 1997-98 the source of loan charge data is the 1997-98 Provisional Outturn return from local authorities

  3. Provisional Outturn and Budget Estimate information is provided to the Scottish Executive annually by local authorities in their POBE returns.

  4. The figures in the table are accounted for on accrual basis.

  5. CFCR is capital from current revenue which is the revenue contribution to capital spending.

  Table 2: Local Authority Capital Payments

  





Final
1997-98
£ 

  million

  

Provisional 

  1998-99
£ 

  million

  

Estimate
1999-2000
£ 

  million

  



Real Terms 

  (1998-99 Prices) (CFCR included within the above)

  

988
153

  

1,027
205

  

1,090
198

  



1996-97 

  Expenditure (1998-99 Prices) (CFCR included within the above)

  

1,063
126

  

1,063
126

  

1,063
126

  



Difference 

  in Value

  

-75

  

-36

  

27

  



Difference 

  in %

  

-7.1

  

-3.4

  

2.5

  



  Notes:

  1. The figures in the table are gross capital payments both funded and not funded from revenue and include expenditure on HRA Housing and New Housing Partnerships.

  2. Information supplied by local authorities on the statistical returns: Capital payments and their financing (CPR 5), CPRFIN 2 Forecast and the Housing Statistics return HCM 2.

  3. The figures in the table are accounted for on a cash basis.

  4. The 1999-2000 figures exclude expenditure on Airports, Commercial Ports, Piers and Harbours, and Shetland work charges.

  Table 3: Local Authority Housing Revenue Accounts

  





Provisional 

  1997-98
£ 

  million

  

Provisional 

  1998-99
£ 

  million

  

Estimate
1999-2000
£ 

  million

  



Real Terms 

  (1998-99 Prices) (CFCR included within the above)

  

1,158
66

  

1,174
86

  

1,167
98

  



1996-97 

  Expenditure (1998-99 Prices) (CFCR included within the above)

  

1,099
24

  

1,099
24

  

1,099
24

  



Difference 

  in Value

  

59

  

75

  

68

  



Difference 

  in %

  

5.3

  

6.8

  

6.2

  



  Notes:

  1. The figures in the table are gross expenditure.

  2. The 1996-97 information is taken from authorities HSG1A return, the 1997-98 from the HSG1 and the 1999-2000 from the HRA estimate return.

  3. Housing Revenue Account expenditure is almost entirely self-financed through rental income (including housing benefit).

  It should be noted, however, that the figures in the tables are not directly comparable year-on-year, as the figures for earlier years are actual expenditure, whereas the figures for the later years are still estimates at this stage.

Transport

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to ensure that a feasibility study is conducted into the re-opening of the railway station at Beattock, Dumfriesshire.

Sarah Boyack: Under the terms of the devolution settlement for railways announced on 31 March 1998, now incorporated in the UK Transport Bill introduced on 1 December 1999, the Scottish Ministers will be able to issue directions and guidance to the Strategic Rail Authority for the franchise providing passenger rail services which begin and end in Scotland. They will reflect priorities for the provision of passenger rail services throughout Scotland. It would then be for the train operating company, in conjunction with Railtrack, to ensure the availability of the necessary infrastructure to meet the terms of the franchise.

Transport

Ian Jenkins (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the proposals for the realignment of the A701 in Midlothian as accepted by the Executive on 1 February still contain each of the measures for enhancing bus services and public transport contained in the original proposals for a PFI-based project that went before the regulatory services committee of Midlothian Council on 14 September 1999.

Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive does not have information on the details of proposals at stages prior to their submission to the Scottish Ministers. However, the Notice of Intention to Develop in respect of improvements to the A701, which was submitted to the Scottish Ministers following the Council’s meeting on 14 September 1999 and which I announced on 1 February would not be called in for decision, was accompanied by a statement which detailed measures to improve public transport and enhance bus services.

Transport

Ian Jenkins (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what its reasons were for not calling in proposals by Midlothian Council to develop a new alignment of the A701 in Edinburgh’s Green Belt and how this project reflects its integrated transport policy objectives.

Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Ministers took the view that the proposals, which were in accord with the statutory development plan, did not merit call-in.

  In intimating this decision to Midlothian Council, it was emphasised that the Scottish Ministers were aware that the Council is committed to pursuing other initiatives as part of a package of measures to improve transportation within and outwith Midlothian. The Scottish Ministers encouraged the Council to pursue these initiatives with a view to delivering a comprehensive and sustainable package of transport improvements as soon as possible.

Transport

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its current estimate is of the likely vesting day for the A77 upgrade between Fenwick and Malletsheugh and for the proposed Glasgow Southern Orbital Road project.

Sarah Boyack: Provided there are no objections to the Compulsory Purchase Orders which were published on 29 December, officials expect to conclude vesting for the land currently identified for the M77 later this year. The vesting date for the Glasgow Southern Orbital Road project will be a matter for East Renfrewshire Council and South Lanarkshire Council, the two local authorities promoting that project.

Transport

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its current assessment is of the viability of a public-private partnership for the proposed A77 upgrade between Fenwick and Malletsheugh.

Sarah Boyack: I refer Mr Neil to my answer to question S1W-2395.

Transport

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has a preferred location for a new service station on the M77 between Malletsheugh and Fenwick once it is completed.

Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive does not have a preferred location for Motorway Service Areas on the M77.

Transport

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider bringing forward the Fenwick to Floak section of the proposed A77 upgrade.

Sarah Boyack: As I made clear in my announcement on the outcome of the Strategic Roads Review , the upgrading of the A77 between Malletsheugh and Fenwick will be undertaken as a single project and to the fastest timetable possible.

Transport

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to publish the environmental study for the Floak to Malletsheugh section of the proposed A77 upgrade.

Sarah Boyack: The Environmental Statement for the Floak to Malletsheugh section of the proposed M77 was published in 1996.

Transport

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the current status is of the proposed upgrade of the A77 between Fenwick and Malletsheugh in respect of the planning and other statutory procedures which require to be undertaken prior to commencement and whether it will provide a detailed breakdown of the sequence of activities between now and the issuing of invitations to tender for the construction contract.

Sarah Boyack: The following orders for the M77 scheme were made on 17 December 1999:

  The M77 Special Road (Fenwick to Floak) Special Road Scheme 1999

  The M77 Special Road (Fenwick to Floak) Side Roads Order 1999

  The M77 Special Road (Fenwick to Floak) (Supplementary) Side Roads Order 1999

  The M77 Special Road (Fenwick to Floak) Side Roads (No.2) Order 1999

  The M77 Special Road (Fenwick to Floak) Appropriation Order 1999

  The M77 Special Road (Fenwick to Floak) Compulsory Purchase Order 1999

  The M77 Special Road (Floak to Malletsheugh) Special Road Scheme 1999

  The M77 Special Road (Floak to Malletsheugh) Side Roads Order 1999

  The M77 Special Road (Floak to Malletsheugh) Appropriation Order 1999

  The M77 Special Road (Floak to Malletsheugh) Compulsory Purchase Order 1999

  The following orders will be made shortly:

  The M77 Special Road (Fenwick to Floak) Extinguishment of Public Rights of Way Order 2000

  The A77 Trunk Road (Fenwick to Floak) de-trunking Order 2000

  The M77 Special Road (Floak to Malletsheugh) Extinguishment of Public Rights of Way Order 2000

  The A77 Special Road (Floak to Malletsheugh) de-trunking Order 2000

  The main activities remaining are minor adjustments to the design to take account of changes to farm accesses, drainage and landscaping. These changes are likely to result in supplementary side road and land orders. The preparation of the tender document will follow, with ground investigation and archaeological investigations to be undertaken. My officials are working to a programme to invite tenderers to submit bids for a Design, Build, Finance and Operate (PPP) contract in spring 2001 with a view to a contract being awarded in spring 2002. Design and construction work will be undertaken in advance of the main contract to provide replacement holes at Eastwood Golf Course.